Tobacco-stemming machine



J. W. SLAUGHTER.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-30, 1920.

1,397,55 1 Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

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iosnr'ir w. SLAUGHTER, or snooirnrn, new roan, nssrenoa 'ro STANDARD r'onnoco STEIVIMER conrmvr, a conroaarron or VIRGINIA.

Tocllwitomit may concern: Be it known that I, Josnrrr W. SLAUGH- TER, a-citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State'of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tobacco-Stemming Machines, of which the following is a specification. i.

This invention relates to an improvement in tobacco stemming machines. In certain tobacco stemming machines there is em ployed an endless chain carrying a series of co-acting two-part stem butt grippers traveling along a stripping mechanism and adapted to hold individual leaves by the stem butt while the leaves are acted upon by the stripping mechanism. These grippers are arranged to open at the far end of the stripping mechanism. The sticky juices of a tobacco leaf exude from the stem butt and tend to slowly accumulate on the contiguous surfaces of the grippers. Heretofore, a wiping device has been used for removing the gummy substance fromthe contiguous surfaces of the stem butt grippers, but these devices wear out rapidly. I have discovered that by keeping the contiguous surfaces of the stem butt grippers moistened with a solvent the accumulation of the gummy substance thereon is prevented, and therefore no wiping devices are needed.

It is the main purpose of the present invention to provide a tobacco stemming machine with a device of this character.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of the well known standard tobacco stemming machine equipped with a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale of the new device shown in Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and a are re spectively side and end elevations of a modified form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a series of traveling stem butt grippers which form a part of the well known standard tobacco stemming machine, a new source of solvent supply, and means receiving solvent from said source of supply and applying it to said grippers 5 Specification of Letters ream.

TOBACGO-STEMMING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921,

Application filed September 30, 1920. -Seria1 No. 413,686.

to keep the latter moist so that accumulatlon of gummy substances exudingfrom the stem butts will be prevented. In the best constructions, the solvent applying means is rotatable and operated by the grippers themselves. f i I vReferring to the drawings, 5 indicates generally the tobacco feed mechanism of the well lmown standard tobacco stemming machine, 6 indicates one of the stripping elements, and 7 indicates the endless chain made up of a series of stem butt grippers which carry the leaves along the stripping mechanism during the stemming operation. I At the far end of the series of traveling stem butt grippers is located a source of solvent supply consisting of a small tank 8 having a dripcock 9. The tank 8 issupported by a bracket 10 secured to the frame of the stemming machine proper by means of bolts 11. It has been found that water is a suitable solvent for the purpose intended and therefore water is preferably used in the tank 8. The bracket 10 is provided with a web 12 having a slot 13 cut therein, and in this slot is adjustably mounted a stud 14 held in adjusted position by means of a nut 15. The stud 14L supports a roller 16 formed of felt and loosely mounted so that it will turn freely on the stud. The roller 16 is located immediately under the dripcock 9 and in the path of movement of the ends of the stem butt grippers. The dripcock 9 is adjusted so that the felt roller 16 receives solvent from the tank 8 drop by drop and is thereby kept constantly saturated. As the grippers successively come into contact with the roller, each one gives it a slight rotating movement; and by the capillary attraction existing between the contiguous surfaces of the'grippers a very small quantity of the solvent is drawn from the felt roller and distributed over said surfaces, where it prevents the adhesion and accumulation of the gummy substances exuding from the stem butts.

In the modified form of device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1, the solvent tank 17 is provided with a sight drop feed 18 of well known character and is screwed into a stud 19 provided with an axial channel 20 and a series of radial channels 21 in communication therewith, the outer end of the axial channel being closed by means of a plug 22. The solvent dropping from the tank 17 into the axial channel 20 finds its way slowly through the radial channels 21, where itcomes into contact with a rotatable felt roller 23, thereby keeping the latter saturated from the inside. The stud 19 is adjustably mounted in a bracket 24 bolted to the frame of the stemming machine proper by means of bolts 25.

Changes and variations may be made in the structure by means of which theinvention is carried into .efi'ect. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is: 1. In a tobacco stemming machine, the

and means receiving solvent from said 20 source and applying it to said grippers.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of traveling stem butt grippers, of asource of solvent supply, and rotatable means operated by said grippers and receiving solvent from said source and a[pplying it to said grippers.-

3. combination with a series of-traveling stem butt grippers, of a source of solvent supply, and a felt wheel intermittently in contact with and operated by said grippers and receiving solvent from. said source and applying it to said grippers. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH W. SLAUGHTER.

n a tobacco stemming machine, the 

